Decreasing Adverse Events in Pediatric Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nephrology
• Patient Safety
• Healthcare Communication

Background:

• Children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) residing far from specialized pediatric facilities face heightened risks of adverse events.
• A pediatric dialysis unit serves 27 chronic ESRD patients, with 19 living over an hour away.
• Past adverse events at external facilities included sepsis, infections, and compromised kidney function due to nephrotoxic drugs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe an improvement initiative focused on reducing adverse events in pediatric ESRD patients needing urgent or emergent care.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of an emergency room dialysis card as a communication tool.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of an emergency room dialysis card system.
• Focus on improving communication among patients, families, and healthcare providers for pediatric ESRD patients requiring urgent care.

Main Results:

• Adverse events, including sepsis and infections, have occurred in patients treated at other hospitals.
• The improvement effort specifically targeted reducing these adverse events through enhanced communication.

Conclusions:

• Effective communication tools are crucial for managing pediatric ESRD patients, especially those requiring urgent care.
• The emergency room dialysis card initiative aims to mitigate risks associated with distance and access to specialized pediatric renal services.